168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen’s performances as the underdog in the 2025 F1 world championship remind168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: Fernando Alonso of his 2012 title bid.

The Red Bull driver converted a stunning pole position into a shock victory at the Japanese Grand Prix by fending off the faster McLarens of 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Lando Norris and168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: Oscar Piastri.

Verstappen’s🎃 fourth straight win at Suzuka, and his first of the new season, has moved him to within a point of Norris in the championship standings.

Desp♚ite having what is conside𓆏red to be the third or fourth-fastest car, the Dutchman’s impressive early displays are putting him in an unlikely position to fight for a fifth consecutive world title this year.

And Alonso can see similariti𓃲es between Verstappen’s🍎 current campaign and his narrow title loss to Sebastian Vettel in 2012.

“I’ve been there. I’ve been fighting for World Championshi♛ps with the third, fourth fastest car,” Alonso is quoted as saying by ꦰMotorsport Week.

“So, you know,🌠 at the end it’s difficult. As it was difficult for𝔉 me to beat [Sebastian] Vettel.

“So I hope for him he can ♛fight until the end. ꩲBut they [Red Bull] need to improve a little bit the machine.”

Alons൩o, who took the 2012 title fight all the way down to the wire despite his Ferrari being inferior 𝓡to Vettel’s Red Bull, added: “He won four, so he can fight with a little bit less competitive car. But, yeah, it’s hard.

“And I think theꦉ people don’t realise how difficult it is. And how you need to make perfect every weekend. Andꦯ he’s doing [it] so far.

“And as I said,ꦓ it reminds me of my 2012 in a way. When the car was not s🍃o good and we fought for the championship.

“But to win it at the🔯 end, let’s see. I hope for him he can win it.”

Fernando Alonso marvels at 'magic' Max Verstappen

Verstappen set up his run to victory in Japan by pipping the ♌McLaren pair to pole position with an astonishing lap in qualifꦯying.

Two-time world chamඣpion Alonso lauded Verstappen’s performance as he watched the end of Q3 unfold from the TV pe🦩n on Saturday following his early exit.

"Only he can do it," Alonso told Viaplay.

"He's an outstanding driver. He's proving it every weekend. Hats off for him. I think the lap he did today is only down to him♓.

"I think the car is clearly not at the level to fight 😼for pole or even the top five. But he manages to do that magical 🔴laps and magical weekends.

“At the moment, he's the best, he's the refꦚerence for all of us, and we need to keep improving to reach that level.”